The Present Subjunctive in Spanish

This section explains the present subjunctive in Spanish and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.

What is the Present Subjunctive?

The present subjunctive is a verb form used to express desires, doubts, wishes, recommendations, emotions, or hypothetical situations. It is often used in subordinate clauses introduced by que (that) after verbs or expressions that trigger the subjunctive mood.

When is the Present Subjunctive Used?

The present subjunctive is used after certain verbs and expressions, including:

• Wishes and Desires
  • Example: Espero que él venga. (I hope he comes.)
• Emotions
  • Example: Me alegra que estudies. (I’m happy that you study.)
• Doubts and Uncertainty
  • Example: Dudo que ella tenga razón. (I doubt that she is right.)
• Impersonal Expressions
  • Example: Es importante que trabajes. (It is important that you work.)
• Necessity or Recommendations
  • Example: Es necesario que comas más. (It’s necessary that you eat more.)

Formation of the Present Subjunctive

The subjunctive is formed by taking the yo form of the present indicative, removing the final -o, and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings.

For -ar verbs:

For -er and -ir verbs:

Irregular Verbs in the Present Subjunctive

Some common verbs have irregular stems in the present subjunctive. These irregularities must be memorised.

Examples of irregular verbs:

Common Phrases that Trigger the Subjunctive

Some common expressions and verbs that often trigger the subjunctive include:

• Es posible que (It’s possible that)
• Es importante que (It’s important that)
• Quiero que (I want that)
• Espero que (I hope that)
• Dudo que (I doubt that)
• Temo que (I fear that)
• Ojalá que (I wish that / Hopefully)

Examples:

• Es posible que ella venga mañana. (It’s possible that she comes tomorrow.)
• Quiero que tú estudies más. (I want you to study more.)

Negative Subjunctive

When expressing negation, the subjunctive is still used after negative expressions.

Example:

• No creo que él lo sepa. (I don’t think that he knows it.)
• No es cierto que ellos lleguen tarde. (It’s not certain that they will arrive late.)

Foundation Tier Example

• Es importante que tú hables. (It’s important that you speak.)
• Espero que ella estudie para el examen. (I hope that she studies for the exam.)

Higher Tier Example

• Aunque mis padres quieran que me quede, prefiero viajar. (Although my parents want me to stay, I prefer to travel.)
• Es posible que ellos no comprendan la situación. (It’s possible that they don’t understand the situation.)

Summary Table of Subjunctive Triggers

By recognising these key phrases and knowing how to form the subjunctive, you'll be well-prepared to use the present subjunctive in both written and spoken Spanish at both foundation and higher levels.